Georgetown: Guyana has decided to ask the International Court of Justice to proceed directly to the holding of oral hearings, at the earliest possible date, to determine its jurisdiction over the border case.
This follows Venezuela’s failure to submit a Counter-Memorial on Jurisdiction, in response to Guyana’s Memorial, by April 18, 2019.
Venezuela failed to make a submission on that date, and indicated in a letter from its Foreign Minister that it had chosen not do so.
Last year, the Court determined that it would be appropriate to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the case before considering its merits.
Guyana thereafter submitted its written Memorial on Jurisdiction, demonstrating that the Court has jurisdiction to decide on the validity of the Arbitral Award and the resulting boundary.
In a statement issued today, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said Guyana is confident that the Court will agree that it has jurisdiction, and then proceed to decide on the merits of Guyana’s suit.
Guyana while expressing regrets that Venezuela has chosen not to participate in the case noted that the ICJ has made it clear, that the door remains open to Venezuela to join in the proceedings.
The next step will be for the Court to schedule the dates for the oral hearing on jurisdiction.
The court proceedings will continue to a final and legally-binding judgment, pursuant to the Court’s rules, whether Venezuela participates or not.
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